Mary-Ann accused admits lying to police

One of six men jointly accused of murdering schoolgirl Mary-Ann Leneghan today admitted lying to police.

Jamaile Morally, 22, of Balham, south London, is on trial alongside five others jointly charged with murdering the 16-year-old and attempting to kill one of her friends.

Mary-Ann, from Reading, Berkshire, was allegedly abducted alongside her friend, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and bundled into the boot of a car.

Reading Crown Court has heard that the two friends were then driven to the Abbey House Hotel in the west of the town and subjected to abuse and rapes before being driven to nearby Prospect Park to be killed.

The jury has been told that Mary-Ann was stabbed to death but that her friend was shot in the head but "miraculously" survived.

Yesterday Morally's co-defendant Michael Johnson, 19, of Southfields, south-west London, dramatically changed his plea to guilty on charges of murder, attempted murder and kidnap although he continues to deny rape and assault.

Today Jamaile Morally's brother Joshua, 23, also of Balham - who earlier pleaded guilty to kidnapping the two friends - also admitted a charge of causing actual bodily harm.

He continues to deny murder, attempted murder and rape and earlier entered a not guilty plea to a charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent which is due to be dropped, the jury has been told.

During the trial Mary-Ann's friend told how she identified Jamaile Morally as the man who shot her, recognising him as having worn white jogging bottoms on the night of the attacks.

But beginning his evidence today Jamaile told the court that he had not shot Mary-Ann's friend as he had not been in the park at the time.

Today Johnson and the alleged ringleader of the attacks 20-year-old Adrian Thomas, of Battersea, south London, both turned down the opportunity to enter the witness box to give evidence.

Jamaile Morally, as the third defendant, then took to the box and was sworn in wearing a pinstriped suit.

Morally's barrister Michael Borrelli QC asked the defendant a series of short questions to set out his case before beginning detailed examination.

Morally told the court from the outset that he admitted being present in the Abbey House Hotel and said that Mary-Ann's friend had performed oral sex and had sexual intercourse with him.

But Morally insisted that she had done so willingly and that he had not used force.

He denied assaulting both Mary-Ann's friend, who is now 19, and the murdered schoolgirl.

He said that he had only become aware that the two girls were in the boot of the car when they were already setting off to the hotel.

In the hotel, after his sexual activity with Mary-Ann's friend, the girls were taken to Prospect Park, he agreed.

But he said that he had not known what was going to happen to them at the park and had not encouraged anyone to murder them.

The court heard that Morally eventually handed himself in to police a short time after the killing but today he admitted that he had not been truthful.

Asked by Mr Borrelli: "When you surrendered to the police and were interviewed did you tell the truth?" He replied: "No I did not."

Morally added: "I handed myself in, I did not tell the truth, I apologise for that."

Also on trial alongside the Morally brothers, Johnson and Thomas are 24-year-old Llewellyn Adams, also of Balham, and 18-year-old Indrit Krasniqi of Chiswick, west London.

Johnson has admitted murder, attempted murder and kidnap but denies the other charges while Joshua Morally has admitted kidnap and causing actual bodily harm but denies all other charges.

All others deny all the charges including Jamaile Morally who faces a separate charge of raping Mary-Ann's friend, in relation to the sexual intercourse which he spoke of today.